Panel Delays Vote On Mall Expansion

November 11, 1998|By PAUL H. JOHNSON; Courant Staff Writer

SIMSBURY — The planning commission delayed a vote Tuesday on a proposed $10 million expansion of the Farmington Valley Mall until developers answer lighting concerns raised by the design review commission.

In August, Konover and Associates filed a proposal to revamp the 27-year-old facility, adding an eight- screen movie theater, a restaurant and a book superstore to the mall.

The design review commission is seeking more information on how lighting will be positioned outside the mall.

Konover said that the renovation was needed to make the mall more competitive and that the expansion would provide jobs and increase tax revenue to the town.

``Our property is significantly behind the other properties on Route 44,'' said Michael Goman, executive vice president for Konover.

But the proposal has drawn criticism from neighbors who are worried that a proposed gas station will leak into neighboring wells and that the movie theater will bring increased traffic and crime into their residential neighborhood.

``I'm strongly opposed to the renovations,'' said Dan Case, whose home is near the mall. Echoing the concerns of many residents, he said he felt the project is ``being shoved down our throats.''

But some residents attending Tuesday night did support the expansion.

``It's a dinosaur,'' said Seth Blumenthal, who said that surveys of residents have shown townwide support for a movie theater.

The planning commission is scheduled to vote on the movie theater proposal in the coming weeks. Afterward, the zoning commission will take up the matter and render final judgment on the mall expansion proposal.

Pending approval by the town land use commissions, Konover hopes to begin construction in the spring and complete the project by next fall.